‘What goals are made from’

Daniel Ballard described his extra-time winner as “what goals are made from” after he despatched Sunderland by way of to the Championship play-off ultimate with a dramatic semi-final win over Coventry Metropolis.

Sunderland led 2-1 from the primary leg, but it surely was Coventry who dominated the return on the Stadium of the Gentle, with the reward for his or her superiority coming when Ephron Mason-Clark levelled the tie on combination 14 minutes from the top of regular time.

Haji Wright wasted a gilt-edged probability to finish the turnaround on the finish of second-half stoppage time, and that miss finally proved pricey as Sunderland’s extra-time resilience paid dividends proper on the dying with penalties seemingly inevitable.

Ballard, who was wonderful in defence for Sunderland, wrote himself into membership folklore within the 122nd minute, stooping to satisfy Enzo Le Charge’s nook and head in off the bar to clinch a 3-2 combination win.

Sunderland will face Sheffield United at Wembley for a spot within the Premier League on Could 24, having spent eight consecutive seasons outdoors the highest flight.

“It’s what goals are made from actually. The followers immediately had been completely unimaginable,” Ballard advised Sky Sports activities.

“It was simply feeling prefer it wasn’t going to be our day and all of the lads had been determined to try to give them one thing to have fun.

“What a dramatic finale and stuff goals are made from.

“I used to be so nervous going into that first sport. He [manager Regis Le Bris] has left Chris Mepham out who has been our greatest participant all season.

“So, it was an enormous name and I really feel for him however I’m simply so completely satisfied the gaffer put his belief in me and hopefully I’ve repaid it.”

Save the date.

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) Could 13, 2025

In the meantime, Coventry boss Frank Lampard was left to rue what he felt was an undeserved finish to the season for his aspect.

“Firstly congratulations to Sunderland, they go to the ultimate however immense pleasure I’ve acquired in my gamers,” Lampard advised Sky Sports activities.

“If anybody watched the 2 video games, we dominated at dwelling, we made a mistake and so they scored. I feel we dominated enormous durations of this sport. We performed, managed and within the second half it was wave after wave.

“The gamers have given every part from the place we’ve come from – seventeenth within the league in December and the gamers have been sensible within the second half of the season.

“They needed to concede to us due to the best way we performed and with the best way the lads managed the sport they don’t deserve it. I’m lots older and I’ve been round lots so I’ve taken whacks and I’ve had success so perhaps I is usually a bit extra balanced in my job however for these gamers, they don’t deserve that.

“We’re not bitter, and congratulations to Sunderland however we had been the higher group over the 2 soccer matches and that’s why they’ll be so completely satisfied going to Wembley.”